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Childbirth

HWB, m/w just told me that they refused to let a woman use the pool because the temp was too low

17 replies

Astarte · 14/01/2009 17:54

At my 36 week appt today the m/w asked if I was using the same pool as last time, I replied 'yes'.

She said "oh, that's good because we had a hwb recently and she wasn't allowed to use the pool because it didn't have a heater and the water was too cold".

I hire a heated/filtered pool because I didn't want Dh to be constantly trying to maintain the temp of the water.
I wanted him by my side through the birth, but surely when the pool is one of the inflatable types you would get the temp right and then get in, rather than have the m/w refuse entry?

At a hwb can they refuse you entry into the pool? Seems bizarre to me. There is nothing wrong with the water being below 37.5 for the first stage anyway as long as it's at body temp for delivery.

OP posts:

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BoffinMum · 14/01/2009 17:57

Um, it's only supposed to be a problem if it's too hot, There's no paper I have read that discusses the issue of the temp being too low during 1st stage. Where's her evidence???

NorktasticNinja · 14/01/2009 17:59

I think they'd probably have a very hard time physically stopping you getting in or making you get out TBH.

Astarte · 14/01/2009 18:00

exactly! temp can be whatever feels comfortable for 1st stage. for second, fair enough check the temp is 37.5, but it was the fact they said they didn't allow the woman to use the pool becasue it wasn't heated.

I was quite shocked.

OP posts:

belgo · 14/01/2009 18:00

It's dangerous for the baby to be born into cold water because the cold can stimulate the baby to breathe whilst still in the water.

Astarte · 14/01/2009 18:02

yes but that's for the second stage though Belgo.

I wanted to ask why they didn't go and fill kettles for her then, but kept schtum.

OP posts:

belgo · 14/01/2009 18:02

If the water isn't at the right temperature, I'm not surprised they wouldn't allow her to use it. It's hard to get a women out of the water on time for thr actual birth, there's too much risk.

BoffinMum · 14/01/2009 18:03

But this is first stage we're talking about. You just top the thing up for second stage to get it to body temp - not a big deal.

Baby can actually aspirate water when it's body temp as well, but this is incredibly rare, probably confined to the more sickly babies with undiagnosed problems, and I have not been able to find any evidence of fatalities anyway.

DaisyMooSteiner · 14/01/2009 18:04

You often top up the pool with hot water as the woman nears second stage so it's the right temperature, no problem with a bit being a bit cooler in first stage - in fact you don't want it to be really warm or you can get a raised temperature and end up being asked to get out anyway!

belgo · 14/01/2009 18:05

and the difference between first and second stage can be incredibly fast. Too fast to top up the water, too fast to get the woman out of the pool. I know women who had planned only to use the water for the first stage and ended up delivering in the water because there wasn't enough time to get her out.

DaisyMooSteiner · 14/01/2009 18:08

RCOG have this to say on temperature of pools:

There has been much controversy over the temperature of the water of a birthing pool, with strict criteria recommending differing estimates ranging from 34 to 37 degrees Celsius17 to a Swedish study which recommended that women be encouraged to regulate the temperature of the water to suit themselves.18 Given these large discrepancies, it would be difficult to agree strict temperature restrictions. It may be of more benefit to allow women to regulate the pool temperature to their own comfort and encourage them to leave and re-enter the pool in the first stage of labour as and when they wish.

BoffinMum · 14/01/2009 18:16

I really wish they paid more attention to observing the babies with a mirror properly and bringing the babies out of the water fairly sharpish, because I think that's actually a bigger issue here.

belgo · 14/01/2009 18:18

I don't understand boffin, I've had two water births and the baby was always taken out of the water as fast as possible.

BoffinMum · 14/01/2009 18:31

My latest one involved me deciding to do this as the mw seemed to be dithering a bit.

Astarte · 14/01/2009 19:40

I think they prefer the woman to take the baby from her and out of the water themselves anyway, as there is some debate about whether the m/w should touch the baby at all under the for fear of stimulation.

I know in my 2 previous home water births they didn't touch them at all, except to release one shoulder when it was clear ds1 was stuck, she then removed her hand and told me to pull him out and straight up. With Ds2 they had a better view due to my position and once the head was out asked me to get ready to lift him out too.

For this one I'm guessing it'll be much the same. Very hands off. I think they only did maybe 3 monitorings of hb through my time in the pool.

OP posts:

papiermache · 15/01/2009 00:59

They refused to let her? Oooh, what a power trip .

I would have thought their advice would have been more welcome rather than permissive statements (or not).... Whose birth is it anyway?!

The latest research I read was that water temp is best left to the labouring woman's choice according to her comfort levels. Makes sense to me! There shouldn't be any rush to surface the baby either, they continue to receive air via cord for several minutes.

I find it frustrating that the mechanics and dynamics of wbs are used by some as another tool in the plethora of scare tactics used to control what would otherwise be natural and confident birthers.

BabyStarlightsMum · 15/01/2009 13:51

I chose the temp. ust before delivering the m/w checked it. After delivery, but before 3rd stage the mw heated it some more but asked permission.

MW didn't see the baby born because I changed position quickly just before final push. Picked her up and out as part of the push. No interference at all, except mw told me to give poor baby a break when 10 second sequence followed:

Push, pick up baby, sit back, shove nipple in mouth.

BoffinMum · 15/01/2009 15:14

Papiermache, some actually do gulp for air whilst still attached to the cord etc and underwater, but it's rare (something like 14 recorded cases and 1 or 2 deaths in 20 years, I have found). I would always bring a baby straight up if possible, just for peace of mind! It's not that they are not getting oxygen, it's that they can get a bit of water on the lungs which would only start to affect them later the same day, and they might then need hospitalising for a few days and sorting out. However as I say, it's incredibly rare.

Some mw are awful bullies, and I am told this a problem in the profession.

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